Smoking yes Or No When Diving.......

[scubadiving]

I just arguing with a friend, about whether you should dive when a heavy smoker, it seams to me, doing anything that reduces the bodies ability to breath oxygen, when deep diving must be a bad thing, I’m not criticising smokers, each to there own, but diving is a risky business even when healthy, any opinions?


From


Scuba Diving For Life

[MSilvia]

Originally Posted by scubadiving

anything that reduces the bodies ability to breath oxygen, when deep diving must be a bad thing,

No more so when diving than on land, but that aside it's a much worse idea to breathe oxygen when deep diving than it is to be a smoker.

[wgt]

While data do not indicate any particular tendency of smoking to predispose towards the expression of decompression illness, manifestations of the disease appear to be more severe in smokers. That is, when decompression illness strikes, it appears to strike affect smokers more severely.

Unfortunately, the data do not seem to address whether abstaining from smoking shortly before dives, between dives, or shortly after dives has any impact on the pattern.

[mwhities]

I figure one couldn't light up underwater. :-D

[MSilvia]

Originally Posted by mwhities

I figure one couldn't light up underwater. :-D

Nope, but I had a buddy who used to pop nicotine gum before each dive so he wouldn't have a "fit".

[texdiveguy]

As a non-smoker I am totally against the nasty/expensive habit under any situation!

Diving and smoking don't mix.

There are many scientific studies and medical reasons for being a non smoker if engaged in scuba diving. This is one of those topics that falls into the common sense category.

Sure most of us are aware of a diver that smokes and gets away with the side effects of it over a period of time in diving, some even for years, but the fact is it does effect the bodies ability to process O2 as effectivly as it should....and thats just part of the story that goes along with smoking and diving.

Can recreational divers smoke and dive-yep---the best choice-no...would be better to take up chess.

[Gumby]

The main draw-back to diving with a heavy smoker... chances are good that they are out of shape, will get winded easily, and will suck down a tank like their octo is free flowing.

How do I know?

Cause I stopped smoking in April. Got to the point that walking a flight of stairs would wind me. Donning my dive gear on a boat was enough to make me winded while my heart rate and blood pressure would start to scream.

How do people breathe when winded? Short, fast, shallow breathes. Will remind you of someone who is panicking (or about to).

The real down side... my bottom time suffers... along with my buddy's. As far as the body processing/off-gassing O2 ... whatever.. you all can argue that one if you want to.

[mwhities]

Not to sound DIRelitest but, if I have a choice, I'll never dive with a smoker. At least will not buddy up with one.

One: I don't want my regs in their mouth
Two: I don't want their regs in my mouth
Three: I want a longer bottom time
Four: I don't want to hang around them smoking as I can't stand it
Five: It bothers me so much... I'd rather call a dive if I'm buddied up with a smoker
Six: "Yes, I'm OOG; No, don't give me your reg."

I'll stop.

Michael

[caroln]

I believe the worst part about smoking and diving is that smoking makes you retain more CO2 which as we already know can cause a multitude of issues.

I have dived with smokers and would again, if it was someone I know and trust. I would not insta buddy with a smoker though. As for sharing regs, when they take it out of their mouth, it gets a rinse before you put it in your mouth, so you're not actually sucking in their smoke breath (yes I've tested this theory).

[mwhities]

Originally Posted by caroln

I believe the worst part about smoking and diving is that smoking makes you retain more CO2 which as we already know can cause a multitude of issues.

I have dived with smokers and would again, if it was someone I know and trust. I would not insta buddy with a smoker though. As for sharing regs, when they take it out of their mouth, it gets a rinse before you put it in your mouth, so you're not actually sucking in their smoke breath (yes I've tested this theory).

Well, the two I've dove with, I could taste the smoke on the regs. They've dove the same regs for 6+ years. Maybe yours hasn't.

Regardless, I won't buddy up with a smoker, although, I'll support them all I can to help them stop smoking.

Michael